Devices for locking a strap cooperating with a retracting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A DEVICE FOR LOCKING A STRAP WHICH IS PART OF A SAFETY SEAT BELT AND COOPERATES WITH A STRAP RETRACTING MECHANISM, IS CONSTITUTED BY A BUCKLE OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A ROD WHICH SERVES AS A LATCHING MEANS AND IS SHIFTABLE IN RELATION TO A RECESS PROVIDED IN A PLATE OF THE BUCKLE. THE STRAP SHALL PASS ABOUT THE ROD AND EXTEND FROM THE SAME SIDE INTO AND OUT OF THE RECESS, THE STRAP BEING LOCKED BETWEEN ONE EDGE OF THE RECESS AND THE ROD WHEN IT IS STRETCHED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PLATE. THE PLATE IS MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN A FRAME BETWEEN THE LOCKING POSITION IN WHICH IT THUS IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE DIRECTION FO THE STRAP, AND A RELEASED POSITION IN WHICH IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE DIRECTION OF THE STRAP.

1 H. M. NYGREN DEVICES FOR LOCKING A STRAP COOPERATING WITH A RETRACTINGMECHANISM Filed Oct. 14. 1968 United States Patent DEVICES FOR LOCKING ASTRAP COOPERATING WITH A RETRACTING MECHANISM Harry Mauritz Nygren,Monsteras, Sweden, assignor to AB Industrifjadrar, Monsteras, SwedenFiled Oct. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 767,224 Claims priority, applicationSweden, Oct. 18, 1967, 14,246/ 67 Int. Cl. A44b 11/10; A62b 35/00 U.S.Cl. 24-196 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for locking astrap which is part of a safety seat belt and cooperates with a strapretracting mechanism, is constituted by a buckle of the type comprisinga rod which serves as a latching means and is shiftable in relation to arecess provided in a plate of the buckle. The strap shall pass about therod and extend from the same side into and out of the recess, the strapbeing locked between one edge of the recess and the rod when it isstretched substantially in the direction of the plate. The plate ismounted for pivotal movement in a frame between the locking position inwhich it thus is substantially parallel with the direction of the strap,and a released position in which it is substantially at right angles tothe direction of the strap.

This invention relates to a device for locking a strap cooperating witha retracting mechanism, the strap being prefer-ably incorporated with asafety seat belt or like harness. Said device is substantiallycharacterised in that it is constituted by a buckle of the typecomprising a rod or like member which serves as a latching means and isshiftable for latching purposes in relation to a recess provided in aplate of said buckle, and the strap is passed about the rod serving aslatching means and extends in such a way from the same side into and outof the recess that the strap is locked between one edge of the recessand the rod when the strap is stretched substantially in the directionof the plate, and that the locking plate is mounted for pivotal movementin a frame between the locking position in which it is substantiallyparallel with the direction of the strap, and 2. released position inwhich it is substantially at right angles to the direction of the strap.

The invention will now be more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawing which shows an embodiment, chosen by way ofexample, of the device. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of the buckle in the locking position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the buckle in the released position;

FIG. 3 is a side view on a smaller scale of the entire device.

The buckle comprises a rod 1 which serves as a latching means and isshiftable for latching purposes in relation to a recess 2 provided in aplate 3 of the buckle. The strap 4 is passed about the rod 1 and extendsin such a way from the same side into and out of the recess 2 as to belocked between the edge 5 of the recess 2 and the rod 1 when the strap 4is stretched substantially in the direction of the plate 3, as shown inFIG. 1. On the other hand, if the plate 3 takes a position substantiallyat right angles to the direction of the strap 4, the latter can befreely pulled out, which FIG. 2 is meant to show. Irrespective ofwhether the plate 3 occupies the FIG. 1 position or the FIG. 2 positionthe strap retracting mechanism 6 can retract a length of the strap. Thelocking and the release 3,551,961 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 thus only applyto the free strap portion 4' remote from the locking device.

The locking plate 3 is mounted for pivotal movement in a frame 7 betweenthe locking position shown in FIG. 1 and the released position shown inFIG. 2. To this end, the plate 3 at its lower edge has projectingportions 8 which cooperate with recesses 9 in the opposite sides of theframe 7, the plate 3 being located between said sides. One of saidprojecting portions 8 can preferably be formed as or provided with alever or like operating means for pivoting the plate 3.

The locking plate 3 can be operated either manually or by a remotecontrol means. If the device is employed in connection with safety seatbelts for automotive vehicles, remote control can be realized with theaid of a manual lever or a pedal placed where it is easily accessible inthe vehicle. Remote control can also be effected from the buckle of thesafety seat belt so that the strap 4 is locked when the constituentparts of the buckle occupy their locking positions.

The strap retracting mechanism 6 includes a spring or like element whichby the intermediary of the strap 4 tends to pivot the locking plate 3 tolocking position. The locking plate 3 is therefore immediately swungback to locking position when for instance the remote control means isreleased.

In the embodiment illustrated the strap retracting mechanism 6 is aroller mounted in the frame 7 and actualted by a torsion leaf spring.However, the mechanism can also consist of a spiral spring which pullsthe strap 4 through the locking device. The spiral spring arrangementcan be made very narrow and therefore readily be built into a doorpillar, a door bottom member etc. in a vehicle.

In the clawing the frame 7 is placed at the floor of a vehicle, thestrap portion 4 extending in a straight upward direction. The frame 7could, however, also be located adjacent the roof of the vehicle, thebelt portion 4' extending downwardly in that case. The pin 10 ensuresthat the strap portion 4' is always correctly oriented with respect tothe locking device.

While the invention has been described and shown in but one embodimentthose skilled in the art will readily realize that modifications can beresorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for locking a strap cooperating with a retracting mechanismcomprising:

a strap incorporated with a safety seat belt,

a fixedly mounted frame,

a locking plate having a recess therein and pivotally attached to saidframe for pivoting of said plate through an angle of approximatelybetween two end positions with one end position being a locking positionand the other end position being a released position for said strap,

a rod latching means mounted for movement in relation to said recess insaid plate,

said strap passing through said recess, about said rod latching means,and back through said recess with portions of said strap extendingtherefrom,

and a strap retracting mechanism connected to said locking plate andsaid rod latching means through the intermediary of a said portion ofsaid strap,

said portions of said strap substantialy parallel to the direction ofmovement of said rod latching means in relation to said plate in saidlocking position, and said portions of said strap substanti-aly at rightangles to the direction of movement of said rod latching means inrelation to said plate in said released position,

3 said strap retracting mechanism and said locking plate mounted formovement of said plate from released position to locking positionthrough the intermediary of said portion of said strap conected betweensaid locking plate and said strap retracting mechanism.

2. The locking device of claim 1, further characterized by said rodlatching means and said plate relatively positioned to catch saidportion of said strap therebetween Which connects to said strapretracting mechanism.

3. The locking device of claim 1, further characterized by lever meansto permit pivotal movement of said plate.

4. The locking device of claim 1, further characterized by control meansto move said plate.

5. The locking device of claim 4, further characterized by said strapretracting mechanism moving said locking plate from released position tolocking position when not influenced by said control means.

6. The locking device of claim 1, further characterized 4 by a springmeans in said strap retracting mechanism for accomplishing the pivotingof said plate to locking position.

7. The locking device of claim 6, in Which said strap retractingmechanism is a roller mounted in said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,234,818 7/1917 Sturrock 241963,227,489 1/1966 Stubblefield 297 3ss 3,375,994 4/1968 Wohlert et a1.242-1072 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

